Over a month into the offseason, Montreal Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj remains unsigned.<\/p>\n
The undrafted 25-year-old fan favourite had a cap hit of $US1.3 million last season. He\u2019s a restricted free agent this year and next, before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2028.<\/p>\n
On paper, Xhekaj brings the sandpaper the Habs are looking for. But other teams are also looking to bulk up, according to The Fourth Period\u2019s David Pagnotta.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are other teams that have expressed over the last few weeks interest in trading for Arber Xhekaj,\u201d Pagnotta told Daily Faceoff<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cCanadiens have valued him for some time and they haven\u2019t pulled the trigger because A) they haven\u2019t found a deal they want, because B) they want to keep the player.\u201d<\/p>\n The latter may come to the surprise of Habs fans, who watched Xhekaj\u2019s ice-time average dip to a career-low 11:25 in 65 games under coach Martin St. Louis last season. During Montreal\u2019s run to the Eastern Conference final, he averaged only 8:06 in eight games.<\/p>\n He never seemed to have a firm grasp on a top-six role with the team. He scored one goal and had three assists during the regular season to go along with 116 penalty minutes. He added another goal in the playoffs.<\/p>\n All seven regular defencemen are set to return, with prospects David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom looking to make the leap as well.<\/p>\n Pagnotta noted the Philadelphia Flyers as a club possibly interested in Xhekaj\u2019s services. This comes on the heels of the Calgary Flames being counted<\/a> among potential Western Conference suitors for the six-foot-four, 240-pound blue liner\u2019s services.<\/p>\n Unlike teammate Kirby Dach, Xhekaj didn\u2019t file for arbitration, so there is no set end point for negotiations on a new deal.<\/p>\n Earlier in the offseason, offer sheets were looking to become all the rage, but in the end only Utah forward Barrett Hayton and Anaheim centre Leo Carlsson took the plunge. Both had their offers matched by their original teams, so they\u2019re staying put.<\/p>\n Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has been quick to lock up core pieces long term, with Ivan Demidov being the latest<\/a> (and likely last) to join the eight-year extension club alongside Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson. On Sept. 16, the next collective bargaining agreement kicks in, capping deals at seven years.<\/p>\n And Xhekaj isn\u2019t the only roster player without a contract for next season. Forward Zachary Bolduc is also a restricted free agent after a 12-goal, 30-point sophomore season.<\/p>\n